Shoe with inserts

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a shoe ( 10 ) having a main portion ( 11 ) and an insert portion ( 12 ). The main portion ( 11 ) includes a sole ( 14 ) and an upper ( 15 ) which includes an outer layer ( 16 ) and an inner layer ( 17 ) which form a pocket ( 18 ) therebetween, the top edges ( 22 ) and ( 21 ), respectively, of which are coupled through fastening means ( 23 ). The outer layer ( 16 ) has a clear portions ( 24 ) through which the insert portion ( 12 ) positioned within the pocket is visible.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Applicant claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 61/755,805 filed Jan. 23, 2013.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a shoe, and more particularly to ashoe with an appearance that can change.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Shoes have existed for many centuries. Today, a shoe, even a sportsshoe, can be a fashion statement for an individual. The problem is thatshoes have become very expense, yet people are inclined to purchasemultiple shoes of different colors or patterns so that they coordinatewith different articles of clothing or wardrobes. The desire to havemany differently colored shoes may not be achievable to a person on abudget.

Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a shoe that can changeappearance. It is to the provision of such therefore that the presentinvention is primarily directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe embodying principles of theinvention in a preferred form.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a shoe 10 accordingto the present invention. The shoe 10 has a main portion 11 and aninsert portion 12. The main portion 11 may be conformed in anyconventional style, such as the athletic shoe shown in the preferredembodiment but not limited to such.

The shoe main portion 11 includes a sole 14 and an upper or cover 15coupled to the sole 14. The upper 15 includes an exterior or outer layer16 and an interior or inner layer 17 separated from the outer layer 16so as to form a pocket 18 therebetween. A top edge 21 of the inner layer17 is coupled to a top edge 22 of the outer layer 16 with andconventionally known releasable fastener or fastening means 23, such aswith hook and loop type fasteners of the preferred embodiment. The outerlayer 16, or at least a portion or portions of the outer layer, has aclear, open, or transparent portion(s) or window(s) 24 which is made ofa clear or transparent flexible plastic material or remain open.Alternatively, the entire outer layer may be made of a transparentplastic material, wherein the entire outer layer may be considered thetransparent portion or window. The inner layer 17 is made of a flexiblematerial, such as a cloth, leather, imitation leather, or any othermaterial suitable for the making of shoes or the like.

The insert portion 12 is made of a flexible material, which may be acloth, leather, imitation leather, or the suitable material or the like.The insert portion 12 has the same general shape and size as that of theupper's pocket 18. As such, the insert portion 12 may be inserted intothe pocket 18 of the upper by first separating the fastener 23 andopening the pocket 18 between the outer and inner layers. The insertportion 12 is then slid into the pocket and the fastener 23 meshed tocouple the inner and outer layers of the upper together to maintain theposition of the insert portion 12. Once positioned within the upper, theinsert portion 12 is visible through the clear portions 24 of the shoes.

It should be understood that the insert portion 12 may be easilyinterchanged with a different, second or any number of insert portion(s)12′ which the same configuration as the first insert 12 to enable one tochange the look, color, or appearance of the shoe without having topurchase an entirely new shoe. Such an interchangeable insert would alsoallow the changing of inserts reflecting the support of different sportsrelated teams.

It should be noted that the insert portion 12 may be made of the samematerial of a person's other article of clothing, such as a shirt,pants, or jacket, so that the shoes coordinate exactly with that articleof clothing. It should be noted that the fastener or fastener means maybe any conventionally know device for releasably holding or coupling twolayers together, such as snaps, buttons, adhesives, tongue and groovefasteners, or the like.

Lastly, it should be understood that the clear portion or window 24 maybe in the form of an opening without any material therein, i.e., an openwindow through which the insert is viewable.

It thus is seen that a shoe is now provided which overcomes problemsassociated with shoes of the prior art. While this invention has beendescribed in detail with particular references to the preferredembodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications,additions and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may bemade thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the following claims.

1. A shoe comprising, a sole, an upper coupled to said sole, said upperhaving an inner layer, and an outer layer spaced from said inner layerto form a pocket therebetween, said outer layer having a clear portion,and a first insert configured to be removably received within saidpocket and viewable through said clear portion of said outer layer. 2.The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a releasable fastener releasablycoupling a portion of said inner layer to a portion of said outer layer.3. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said inner layer has an inner layer topedge and said outer layer has an outer layer top edge, and wherein saidreleasable fastener releasably couples together said inner layer topedge to said outer layer top edge.
 4. The shoe of claim 3 wherein saidreleasable fastener is a hook and loop type fastener.
 5. The shoe ofclaim 1 further comprising a second insert configured similarly to saidfirst insert so that said second insert and said first insert may beinterchangeable.
 6. A shoe comprising, a sole, a cover interior layercoupled to said sole, a cover exterior layer coupled to said coverinterior layer to form a pocket at least a portion of which is generallytransparent, and a first insert configured to be removably receivedwithin said pocket and viewable through said transparent portion of saidouter layer.
 7. The shoe of claim 6 further comprising a releasablefastener releasably coupling at least of a portion of said coverinterior layer to a portion of said cover exterior layer.
 8. The shoe ofclaim 6 wherein said cover interior layer has a top edge and said coverexterior layer has a top edge, and wherein said releasable fastenerreleasably couples to cover exterior layer top edge to said coverinterior layer top edge.
 9. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said releasablefastener is a hook and loop type fastener.
 10. The shoe of claim 6further comprising a second insert configured similarly to said firstinsert so that said second insert and said first insert may beinterchangeable.
 11. A shoe comprising, a sole, an upper coupled to saidsole, said upper having a first layer with an exterior facing surface, asecond layer spaced from said inner layer exterior facing surface toform a pocket therebetween, said second layer having a windowtherethrough, and a releasable fastener releasably coupling a portion ofsaid first layer to a portion of said second layer, and a first insertconfigured to be removably received within said pocket and viewablethrough said window of said second layer.
 12. The shoe of claim 11wherein said first layer has a first layer top edge and said secondlayer has an second layer top edge, and wherein said releasable fastenerreleasably couples together said first layer top edge to said secondlayer top edge.
 13. The shoe of claim 12 wherein said releasablefastener is a hook and loop type fastener.
 14. The shoe of claim 11further comprising a second insert configured similarly to said firstinsert so that said second insert and said first insert may beinterchangeable.
 15. The shoe of claim 11 wherein said window includes atransparent material covering said window.